O'Briens of Waterford City and Model Bakery

Hi Robyn,

Like your husband my Great gansfather was the same Michael O'Brien of Patrick Street Waterford.

The same Michael 'OBrien died at his youngest son's Michael's residence 25 South Parade, Waterford and was buried with his wife Margaret at Ballygunnewr Cementry, Ballygunner, Waterford. 

The census of 1901 showed the following O'Brien's living at 6 Patrick Street, Waterford - Head of House - Michael - aged 60 yrs

Kate - aged 32 yrs

Lurence - Aged 26 yrs

Michael - Aged 20 yrs

As you can see your husband'a grandfather had already lecft for Sydney.

My grandfather Michael O'Brien born 1881 and died 1920 buried at Ballygunner Cementry was the key person in running the business at Patrick Street both running the daily business but also working as the master baker working from 2am to 6am daily and was a daily mass attentant. 

During the 1913 general strike affected the bakery as bakers went on strike but my grandfather in order to continue producing his products went to Nothern Ireland and employed bakers who were not associated with the southern bakers. During this period his health was affected as a result of the mental and physical work load thrust upon him, during this time his eldest brother Laurence was training to be an accountant and at the time had no hands on involvement in the business.

My mother Mavis O'Brien was the youngest daughter of Michael O'Brien the youngest son of the above Michael O'Brien of Patrick Street. She married my father James Kervick who came from a very wealthy Waterford family who were involved in the livestock business, her sister as you rightly mentioned married uncle Danny Bowe in 1936. The Boew family were in the same business as the Kervick's .

The only brother of my mother outside of uncle Mickey who died as an infant in 1910 and was buried Denver, USA,  was Uncle Johnny who passed away in earlty 1982 who had his inheritance taken away from him as a result of a verey nasty legal battle brought by uncle Laurence O'Brien who took complete control of the businees following the untimely death of my grandfather - Michael O'Brien.

I do remember my mother speaking about her cousins in Sydney but did not realise that the John O'Brien born 1868 was her uncle and brother to my grandfather Michael O'Brien born 1881. 

Please keep in contact

 

Michael Kervick

 

Mobile - 00353876839300

 

michael.kervick@hotmail.com